Hanna Hirsch Pauli - what a fantastic artist - full marks!

We visited the art exhibition 'Hanna Hirsch Pauli - The Art of Being Free' at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm during October, not just once but twice! Accomplished large oil paintings at around the age of twenty, the time was the 1880s.

Many probably recognize "Frukostdags" (Breakfast Time) when they see it. A flowing and vibrant painting that didn't fit the times. The new era's impressionism was reflected in the loose painting style with its colors, tones, and motifs. Hanna Pauli received criticism, and the comments also alluded to her Jewish heritage. Hanna Hirsch Pauli was only 23 years old when she painted Frukostdags in 1887.

Image: Family Group by the Lamp, by Hanna Hirsch Pauli, painted when she was only 21 in 1885! She studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm during this time and received a ducal medal for the painting during its 150th anniversary. The same year, she traveled to Paris to study.

Image: Close-up of Breakfast Time. Cropped.

But the artist was not discouraged and continued her studies now in Europe, Paris, and Italy. She painted throughout her life until her death in 1940.

In the exhibition's large number of works and many portraits, one can see how painting has changed over time. Both in terms of motifs and painting style. From the era of corsets to the looser modern style.

Image: Oil portrait of her friend Venny Soldan-Brofeldt. Venny and Hanna studied at the Académie Colarossi and lived together during their studies in Paris.

Image: More media, crayon, oil, watercolor, by Hanna Hirsch Pauli.

Image: The oil painting 'Friends' which she created in two versions and worked on over a period of ten years. The friends revolve around the main figure Ellen Key who is reading aloud at the Pauli couple's home. Hanna herself is sitting on the floor with her back to the viewer in a brown dress.

Image: Self-portrait in oil. Hanna Hirsch Pauli

The exhibition at Nationalmuseum runs until January 11, 2026. Go and see it, it's an experience!